EVENT DETECTION IN VISUAL SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS

• US 20080232688A1
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Senior, Andrew W., Tian, Ying-Ii
• Application Number:
  US12/016,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20080232688A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/181
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7864 T.V. type tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/40 Software arrangements specially adapted for pattern recognition, e.g. user interfaces or toolboxes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69

Abstract

An improved solution for detecting events in video is provided, in which a region of interest within a series of video images of the video is monitored. An object at least partially visible within the series of video images is tracked and a fiducial region of the object is identified. The fiducial region is one or more points and/or area(s) of the object, which are relevant in determining whether an alert should be generated. The fiducial region is monitored with respect to the region of interest and a restricted behavior. When the restricted behavior is detected with respect to the region of interest, an alert is generated.

Claims

1. A method for detecting events in video comprising:

monitoring a region of interest within a series of video images of the video;

tracking an object within the video, the tracking including identifying a fiducial region of the object within the series of video images, the fiducial region being one of;

a point, a group of points, or a portion of an entire area of the object;

monitoring the fiducial region for a restricted behavior with respect to the region of interest, wherein at least one of the fiducial region or the restricted behavior is specified by a user; and

generating an alert in response to detecting the restricted behavior with respect to the region of interest.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fiducial region is one of:

a centroid of a model for the object or a centroid of an area of the object visible within the video.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a person and wherein the fiducial region represents one of:

a head, a hand, or a foot of the person.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the region of interest comprises a linear trigger.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the behavior is selected from the group consisting of:

crossing the region of interest, entering the region of interest, leaving the region of interest, or being present within the region of interest.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the restricted behavior comprises a plurality of conditions for the object in the region of interest.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring at least one additional parameter with respect to the alert, wherein generating the alert requires detecting a specified condition of the at least one additional parameter.

8. A system for detecting events in video comprising:

a component for monitoring a region of interest within a series of video images of the video;

a component for tracking an object within the video, the tracking including identifying a fiducial region of the object within the series of video images, the fiducial region being one of;

a point, a group of points, or a portion of an entire area of the object;

a component for monitoring the fiducial region for a restricted behavior with respect to the region of interest, wherein at least one of the fiducial region or the restricted behavior is specified by a user; and

a component for generating an alert in response to detecting the restricted behavior with respect to the region of interest.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the fiducial region is one of:

a centroid of a model for the object or a centroid of an area of the object visible within the video.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the object is a person and wherein the fiducial region represents one of:

a head, a hand, or a foot of the person.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the region of interest comprises a linear trigger.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the restricted behavior comprises a plurality of conditions for the object in the region of interest.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a component for monitoring at least one additional parameter with respect to the alert, wherein generating the alert requires detecting a specified condition of the at least one additional parameter.

14. A computer program comprising program code stored on a computer-readable medium, which when executed, enables a computer system to implement a method of detecting events in video, the method comprising:

monitoring a region of interest within a series of video images of the video;

tracking an object within the video, the tracking including identifying a fiducial region of the object within the series of video images, the fiducial region being one of;

a point, a group of points, or a portion of an entire area of the object;

monitoring the fiducial region for a restricted behavior with respect to the region of interest, wherein at least one of the fiducial region or the restricted behavior is specified by a user; and

generating an alert in response to detecting the restricted behavior with respect to the region of interest.

15. The computer program of claim 14, wherein the fiducial region is one of:

a centroid of a model for the object or a centroid of an area of the object visible within the video.

16. The computer program of claim 14, wherein the object is a person and wherein the fiducial region represents one of:

a head, a hand, or a foot of the person.

17. The computer program of claim 14, wherein the region of interest comprises a linear trigger.

18. The computer program of claim 14, wherein the restricted behavior comprises a plurality of conditions for the object in the region of interest.

19. The computer program of claim 14, the method further comprising monitoring at least one additional parameter with respect to the alert, wherein generating the alert requires detecting a specified condition of the at least one additional parameter.

20. A method of generating a system for detecting events in video, the method comprising:

providing a computer system operable to;

monitor a region of interest within a series of video images of the video;

track an object within the video, the tracking including identifying a fiducial region of the object within the series of video images, the fiducial region being one of;

a point, a group of points, or a portion of an entire area of the object;

monitor the fiducial region for a restricted behavior with respect to the region of interest, wherein at least one of the fiducial region or the restricted behavior is specified by a user; and

generate an alert in response to detecting the restricted behavior with respect to the region of interest.